YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia's GDP grew by 6.8% in 2008 on the previous year and made 3 trillion 650 billion 49.8 million drams (more than 11 bln 930.9 mln USD). The index-deflator of GDP made 108.5%. According to the RA National Statistical Service, industrial production increased by 2% in Armenia in 2008 on 2007 and made 751 bln 251.3 mln drams. Gross agricultural output grew by 1.3% to 637 bln 272.5 mln drams, construction grew by 1.7% to 842 bln 351 mln drams, retail trade increased by 4.4% to 1 trillion 59 bln 571.2 mln drams, and services grew by 13.8% to 731 bln 657 mln drams. The foreign trade of Armenia grew by 24% as compared with January-November of the previous year and amounted to 5 bln 480.4 mln USD, with exports declining by 7.8% to 1 bln 69 mln USD, and imports growing by 35% to 4 bln 411.7 mln USD. Consumer prises rose by 9%, industrial production prices - by 2.2% in 2008 on 2007. The number of the officially registered unemployed fell by 0.5% in the country in late December 2008 as compared with the same month of 2007 and made 74.7 thousand. The average monthly nominal salary made 91,331 drams in 2008 (17.4% growth as compared with 2007), including the salary of employees of budgetary institutions - 64,836 drams (18.6% growth) and that of employees of nonbudgetary institutions - 113,882 drams (16.3% growth). The average exchange rate of a US dollar made 305.97 drams in 2008, while in 2007 the same index made 342.08 drams.

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